Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Is that Jesus in Disguise?

Do we like
surprises? As I think about it, I would probably answer, “it depends.” I know I
like to surprise others and must admit to having a penchant for playing practical
jokes, and while I have become more sensitive to time, place and personalities
targeted, I’m not completely “rehabilitated.” I’ve learned that not everyone
shares my sense of humor. I, myself, don’t really like to be surprised; I’d
rather be pleased or displeased with an event or outcome, knowing in advance
what might be expected. Yet, there are those, who enjoy surprises and would
rather not have any inkling in advance.

This brings me to this week’s Gospel,
(Matthew 25: 31-46) which depicts elements of surprise for the good guys and
the bad, the sheep and the goats.
Both groups were surprised by what Jesus said when they asked “Lord, when did
we and when didn’t we…” Why do we suppose this is? Nether group denies their
behavior, and both groups registered surprise when they failed to recognize
Jesus. Tell the truth, we know that when
we do it for the least of our brethren, we do it for God but do we really
expect to see Jesus in the face of the disenfranchised, the homeless, the imprisoned
and the downtrodden? Don’t we really prefer to look for him as the royal figure
depicted in the words of Mathew as he gathers all the angels with him, and sits
on the throne of his glory with all the nations assembled before him?

This is a deliberate set up in
Matthew as we are expected to be surprised and wonder when did we or didn’t we?
And really, the least of my brethren.
Don’t these words come much more easily than the reality of recognizing him,
and perhaps ourselves, in those who are hurting? Hasn’t “the least of our
brethren” become so wrapped up in religiosity
and Bible-speak that we let the words flow trippingly off the tongue? Words,
words, words. And so we pat ourselves on the back when we provide a few cans of
food for those in need in this time of
outreach, and we retreat to the comfort of our warm homes as we prepare for
our Thanksgiving Holiday. But are we really doing it for the least of our brethren or is it really
something we are doing becauseit’s that time and at least we can keep our discomfort
at arm’s length, out of sight and still feel good? While we do thank God for churches
and charitable enterprises, as they work to serve the needy, unfortunately, they
often keep us safely within, “inside” and insulate us from the reality of God.

Richard Rohr tells us that for
centuries all the world’s religions were pointing to heaven or the kingdom of
God as something in the “next world.” God is with us, here and now, as revealed
in the fellowship of broken people we call church and available to us in the
seemingly small gestures of mercy we offer and are offered each and every day.
It may not be where we expect God to show up, but it is just where we need him.
So, we celebrate Christ the King, not because
of his regal bearing, but because of his humility; not because of his power,
but because of his compassion and his presence in us and the least of these…